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Danger of caching


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The only time I've been concerned, we were still in the van looking for the way into a cache. Sissy was driving and remember saying something to the effect, "Drive, just drive." in a fairly emphatic tone.

 

I have a fairly cautious, but trusting philosophy. People are generally good. They may look menacing, bad, or weird, but most are decent people and you'll never have any problems with them.

 

It's those few that you have to worry about.

 

A few thoughts of this subject:

 

Muggers, which is really what we're talking about, are opportunists. Don't be an opportunity. I'd have to say, crimes of these natures are rarely spontaneous, they will assess the situation for at least a short time and determine the danger to them you pose.

 

No one is going to hide out at a cache waiting for someone to come along. If anything, they will scope you out and follow you into the woods. Be aware of your surroundings.

 

On CCW permits: don't be fooled into thinking those are a deterrent in itself. Even in areas with "must issue" rules and heavy carrying populations, the odds of coming up against someone who is actually carrying is slim. Not saying it doesn't reduce crime, it does overall, but in one-on-one situations, when someone is sizing you up, he will not know you are carrying or not. Not saying carrying is useless either, but if he doesn't know you're carrying, he can't make the decision to not attack based on that. Visible means of protection will be a deterrent. Where legal, a can of bear spray on your belt is probably a good deterrent. As would be a hefty walking stick, the handle of a machete poking out of your pack (for trail maintenance,) or any decent sized flashlight when caching at night. Pose a possible danger if confronted and the bad guy will pass you up.

 

Of course, it's always fun to cache with a partner. icon_wink.gif

 

CR

 

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quote:
Originally posted by SLCDave:

I have never encountered any problems or issues, but I do like having someone else with me. My imagination is WAY too active, and has scared me more times than any book, movie or story ever has. I tend to think of weird, creepy things that could happen when I'm in an area. It always starts out innocent, like the time I went to a cache that had been out a while. It wasn't really far off a major roadway, but was secluded enough that I could be missing for days before I was found. I had to hike into an area with large trees and bushes. There is a lot of wildlife in the area, so when I saw some old bones near the cache, I wasn't concerned at first. They looked like they were from a deer, but since they weren't all there, it was just some long leg bones, a few ribs and some pelvic looking pieces. Then, there goes my imagination. Maybe this was the last person to look for the cache.... Then the bones looked more and more human to me, then I heard a noise behind me. Turns out it was a rabbit making the noise, and I saw the deer skull in the bushes. I DO recommend having someone with you when you go. You never know when something can happen, from turning an ankle and not being able to walk, to encountering someone on the trail. There is confidence in having something to use in case of protection, but having another person with you may be the best protection in the end.


 

If you hear the creepy music start, getting louder and louder, faster and faster, it's time to run. Because usually, that's about the time that the monster picks off someone to eat! [icon_wink.gif]

 

Holy_Roller, relax. I think you'll find that you're safer caching with a little common sense than you are driving a car. Unless of course, a boulder falls on your arm and you have to saw it off with a pocketknife.

 

Joel (joefrog)

 

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for ye are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"

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Before getting my CCW in July, I was open carry. I believe it could have deterred some people from engaging in conduct that would leave them ventilated, but don't know for sure. It was more a sense of being aware of my surroundings that I feel kept me safe.

 

The element of surprise when you reveal a weapon you are carrying when a situation calls for more than likely will end a confrontation before shots are fired. A perfect case in point was a group of drunk college students who spotted me from a distance looking for a cache, and proceeded to get into their car to come over and start some trouble. Due to their size, numbers and the threats to 'kill me', I drew down. A loud "he's got a gun!" later, and all I saw were brakelights in the cloud of dust as they took off. I uttered not a single word to them, so I can't say what sparked the confrontation on their part. In the darkness, open carry or not, they wouldn't have seen it. But my flashlight shining off the slide was what convinced them that threats of this nature are a BAD idea.

 

Brian

Team A.I.

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Hmmm....To date the greatest danger we have encountered (cache as a family of 5 + a fearless pommeranian)...was ticks, poision ivy, unstable slate covered earth, precarious deer trails placed on the edge of a gorge and vines that rip out....

 

I have not yet cached alone...usually we take our dog. Foo the wonder dog...my avitar px...becomes very possesive of the group and me in particular... Those little dogs can really bark and in a pinch she will show you all her pearly whites....

 

but yes I read the logs before going out esp when in an unfamiliar area and now we carry a cell phone....

 

Kudos to cache dogs! Neighbor calls mine killer icon_smile.gif

 

DxChallenged

 

"Have you no news on your travels?" the Book of fairy & folk tales of Ireland (1888)

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Before I go caching I always read the logs and try to check out the area as best I can. I have only done one cache alone and do not worry about myself, but when I do caches with my friend and her daughter I tend to be more cautious. We have met what some would deem scary people on caches, I follow the basic rules, look them in the eyes, do not be intimidated, and always be friendly. Of all the ones that seemed dangerous, ie biker types, stragglers, hobos, the most unfriendly people I have met are the well geared well to do crowd, all the rest were more then willing to stop and chat about the area with us for awhile. So my advise is if it feels wrong leave, but don't judge a someone because they are different then you, some of them can really inhance your caching experience. I do carry a rather large and legal Knife with me on all caches, and it is plainly visiable, maybe it helps and maybe not, make me feel better either way.

 

I see your lips moving but all I hear is blah blah blah

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quote:
Originally posted by SombreHippie & Puppy Dawg:

Strange that this thread shows up the day after I log this:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=79029

 

Scary, scary encounter in the shady part of town at night with what appears to have been the local teenage stoners... Stoners is right! *shudder*

 

After almost getting clocked in the head with a large rock, I won't be caching in the dark around there *ever* again... Which is a shame because we love night caching.

 

A great serial killer once said, "Beauty is only skin deep. Trust me, I've looked..."


Sounds like you had quite the "adventure". icon_mad.gif Guarantee you, that if this did (or does) happen in my neck o the woods, i got some buds I used to train and train with that would love NOTHING more than to have one of us play "lone meek 'n mild geo-cacher" as bait for the aforementioned lowlifes then give them the surprise of their half-long lives. Nothing stops intimidation and bullying like the liberal application of force (best delivered to soft 'n tender areas of the body)

 

A friend I used to spar with used to Joke "Domino's delivers pizza, we deliver pain"

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quote:
Originally posted by GeoFool:

Have you ever seen the movie ‘Deliverance’? You never know what you may run into out in the woods.

 

Squeal like pig! icon_eek.gif

 

GF


 

Nah, that only happens to Northerners when they venture too far south. Oh, wait... where are you from again? icon_wink.gif

 

Joel (joefrog)

 

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for ye are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"

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